Lake Harding
Harris County, Georgia5,850 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · PCBs
- #4 of 4 in the county
- Public access
Lake Harding in Harris County, Georgia has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5 µg/L. Surface area: 5850 acres.
- Clarity
- 6 ft
- Area
- 5,850 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 20 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 5 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Lake Harding’s letter
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Lake Harding is a 5,850-acre mesotrophic lake in Harris County, Georgia. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2026. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Harris County, Lake Harding ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Georgia EPD, last sampled 2026-03-03. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake Harding is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Big water5,850 acres
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Lake Harding is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 6 ft. Phosphorus 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 5 µg/L. TSI 48. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 5,850 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Harding, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Idle Hour ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Lake Harding
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Harding is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Bartletts Ferry, Main Dam (completed 1926), built primarily for hydroelectric on the Chattahoochee; gravity-type dam, 150 ft tall and 3,786 ft long.
- Surface area
- 5,850 ac
- Normal storage
- 183,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 183,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 4,260 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Georgia Power Company
All listed purposes: Hydroelectric;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID GA00830 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Harding is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit GAR031300021102 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 4 lakes in Harris County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lake Harding holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Harris County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Harding
Where is Lake Harding?
- Lake Harding is a lake in Harris County, Georgia. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Harding?
- Lake Harding in Harris County, Georgia has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5 µg/L. Surface area: 5850 acres.
Is Lake Harding safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Lake Harding is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Harding?
- Lake Harding has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Idle Hour Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Harding across LakeQuality
More Georgia Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Georgia
Mesotrophic Lakes in Georgia
Where this data comes from
407 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2012–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Georgia DNR Environmental Protection Division
21GAEPD_WQX407 samples · 2012–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory